Supporting strap for electric fixtures



Oct. 6, 1936.

R. L. DAVISON v 2,056,169

SUPPORTING STRAP FOR ELECTRIC FIXTURES Filed Dec. 22, 1934 INVENTOR gfRoberT L. Davis r1 @f A NEY.

.Patented (Jet. 6,

PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING STRAP FOR ELECTRIC FIXTURES Robert L. Davison, New York, N. Y., assignor to John B. Pierce Foundation, New York, N. Y a corporation of New York Application December 22, 1934, Serial No. 758,739

6 Claims.

My present invention relates to supporting devices, and more particularly to an improved supporting strap for electric light or similar fixtures.

My invention is designed to enable an electric fixture to be adjustably supported in position in a ceiling or wall of a building, and without the necessity of having the support rigidly or otherwise secured to the supporting joists or studding. In carrying out my invention I provide a supporting strap or similar member, usually channel-shaped in cross section, and provided on the bottom of the U with an elongated rectangular slot, and position this strap with the slot therein in registry with a hole in the wall or ceiling. Associated with the U-shaped strap, and particularly with the elongated rectangular slot therein I provide an outlet fixture, or member, such as a chandelier support, or a socket for an electric connection. One end of such outlet fixture, or member, is of rectangular construction having its larger dimension, or length, less than the length of the rectangular slot in the strap, and greater than the width of such rectangular slot, and a width less than the width of the rectangular slot. Preferably also, the outlet fixture, or member, is provided with conductors as an integral part thereof, and adapted for attachment with the electric supply system in the house, or other building in which the same is located. On one face of the rectangular member, and extending outwardly therefrom, is a member provided on its interior with threads for receiving a threaded electric member, such as an electric light bulb, or a screw Socket plug, such member is also provided with threads on its outer periphery for engagement with the internal threads of a ceiling plate. The device may be associated with the U-shaped strap, with the rectangular member on one side of the bottom of such strip, and with the connecting end on the other side thereof. Such connecting end extends through the wall or ceiling, and is adapted to be held in adjusted position with relation to the rectangular slot in the U-shaped strap by the ceiling plate above referred to.

The device is adapted for use in new or old building structures. That is, it may be incorporated in the wiring system during the erection of the building, or may be utilized in a wiring system being installed in a building at any time after the completion thereof.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a, sectional. elevation, of a portion of a building structure, showing my device in position with respect to the ceiling and between adjacent joists.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of the 5 U-shaped strap and the connecting member.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, and showing the connecting device inserted through the rectangular slot in the U-shaped strap.

Fig. 5 is a View, similar to Figs. 3 and 4, show- 1 ing the connecting member in its final position after having been rotated through an angle of and Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the central portion of Fig. 1. 15

Referring to the drawing, I0 designates a supporting strap, substantially U-shaped in cross section, and provided on the central portion of the bottom of the U with an elongated rectangular slot I I. On the under face of the U-shaped supporting member or strap Ill, and at each end of the elongated rectangular slot I I are downwardly extending members I2. The U-shaped strap I0 is adapted to be positioned between adjacent joists I3 supporting a ceiling, or between equivalent members, such as the studding in a wall. Secured to the under faces of the joist I3 is the usual ceiling, comprised, say of, laths I 4 and plaster I5, together with the finish coat IS. At the designated point in a room, of which the ceiling referred to forms a part, the portion of a light fixture, such as a chandelier or other fixture, is determined upon, and thereupon a hole I l is made in the ceiling through the plaster I5 and lath I4 as indicated in Fig. 1. The hole I1 is generally round, and of a diameter slightly greater than the distance between the downwardly extending members I2 on the U-shaped supporting strap I 0. The members i2 act therefore, as a means for accurately positioning the U-shaped strap II) with respect to the hole I'I.

Associated with the U-shaped strap I0 is a connecting member comprised of a rectangular portion I8, of a length less than the length of the elongated rectangular slot in the U-shaped strap IE3, and greater than the width of such slot II. The rectangular element I8 acts as a housing for electric connections (not shown) and which have connected thereto the conductors I9 and 20 contained in the cable 2I. A removable cover 22 for 50 the rectangular element I8 provides access to the electric connectors above referred to. On the face of the rectangular element I8, remote from the cover plate 22, is formed integral therewith and extending downwardly therefrom, a cylindrical 55 slot H.

threads 26a and the external threads 24 will ex.-..

tend downward to a point below the face ofthe ceiling above referred to. Associated with the external threads 24 is a ceiling plate 25, and which acts to hold the connecting memberin adjusted position with respect to the slot: II \and thesupporting strap Hi.

When assembling the various elements abovereferred to, the substantially circular hole H is formed in the ceiling and in the supporting laths- I4, The L J;shaped supporting strap IE! ,is. then placed in positionas shown in ,Fig. 1, and in the case Where the device is to be secured to. a ceiling the downwardly extending members [2 extend into the hole H, as shown in Fig 1. The rectangular member i8..with the integrally formed cylindrical: member 23, together with the. cable Etis then associated with the elongated slot II. This may be, done by passing the cable 2i through the elongated slot H from the bottom of the ceilingupwardly into the space between the joists. i3, the cable 21 being followed by the rectangular member or element l8. This upward movement is continueduntil thecable 2i and rectangular element l8 occupy the dot-and-dash position shown in Fig. 3. This threading movement ofthe rectangular element l8 through the elongated slot l l is permitted because of the fact thatthe widthof the rectangular element'i8zis less thanthewidth of the elongated rectangular h Upon reaching the position shown in Fig. 3 or,Fig 4,,the rectangular element I8 is rotated through an angieof 90, assuming the positionshownin Fig. 5,1where it will be noted that becauseof the'fact thatthe length of the rectangu- 'lar element l8..is greater than the width of the elongated slot H, such rectangular member 18. cannot be then passed through the. rectangular; slot, l I. Also because of the fact that the width of the' rectangular element I8 is considerably less than the elongated slot Ii, there is permitted a considerablerange of movement of the rectangular element l8,.together with the cylindrical member 23, along the length of the slot H. This'allowsfor adjustment, and therefore the rectangu- "lar' member or element 18 is moved backward or forward along the slot l I until in proper position, whereupon the internally. threaded ceiling plate 25 is screwed onto, the external threads and the rectangular element I8 is firmly secured in adjusted position;

Where the device is to be installed in a buildingalready completed, the. rectangular plate Ill isvpassed through the hole El and into the position shown in Fig. 1. Thecable 2! is then fishedf through the rectangular hole I! in the plate [0' to a point below the ceiling I5, or wall. The cover plate. 22 a is; then removed from the rectangular block l8,;the ends of the Wires l9 and 20 connected to;the terminals within such rectangular block. 18,, and the cover plate 22 replaced. The rectangular block I8 is then passed upwardly through the rectangular hole II and adiustably. positioned as above described.

My improved device is as readilyremoved i'ro n the position shown as it was originally inserted therein. It will however, be firmly retained in adjusted position until the ceiling plate 25 is partially unscrewed from the threads 24.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein described and illustrated is merely a convenient and useful form of the im vention, which is capable of other modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Iv claim.

1, I a-supporting device, an elongated strap provided with an elongated slot of predetermined width and length, a rectangular member having a-widthJessthan-thewidth of said slot and a length greater-"than the width of said slot, to permit-saidmember to be inserted through said elongated slot:and thereafter rotated to position its greater length across the width of the slot a member depending from the rectangular memher,- nd. a elnpine mem e n aeinewit ih depend -Jaem e le 12m he ectangu-r erebnn d us d; eosit nnr lativ o. he. length of said slot.

In a p orting;- evic a lo at d. ap

p e Wit l0n a sl tiof p e t in d. width -,and length a rectangular=member having, a.widtl ,less than the Widt of said slotand a; length 1 greater, than" the, width; of said slot, to, permit 1 said member to be inserted through said; 9 elongated slot and; thereafter: rotated to position its greater length-across the -width of, the slot a member formed integral with and 1 depending from ,the. rectangular member, andv a; clamping member engaging with-thedepending member,- oa e ethe. e ngul r membertin a jus d: position relative-tothe length of thesaid slot;

3. In a. supporting device, an; elongated strap; provided; with an -elongated; slot of predetermined;

dthn l e ift a f t l la jzmember havin 0.

a, width less,than-,the width of said slot anda length greater; than the width;of;said slot, to. Perm t aid-memberz o se t d throu h said qns tedi t and e e ter rotated ;to.-p s t n its gr-eat erlength;across the;width of; the slot 45.;

a cylindrical member formed integral with and depending from the. rectangular member, and a. clamping. member engaging with the depending. member, for-clamping, the rectangular memberin adjusted position relative to, thelength .of then 50,-.

4.,In, a supporting device; an elongated strap provided with ;an elongated'slot :of predetermined width ,and lengtln, a,- rec tangular..-member.having:

' a width-less than; the ,width'of said 1 slot and a 55 y lengthgreaten-than .the width. ofrsaid slot, topermit saidmember to. belinserted through said: elongated islotand thereafter rotated-to position its greater lengthacrossthe width of the'slota cylindrical membereformedintegral with and ber formed. integral :with and: depending from, 7

the rectangular block member and provided with external threads at its lower end, and an internally threaded clamping member engaging with the threads on the depending member, for clamping the rectangular block member in adjusted position relative to the length of the said slot.

6. In a supporting device, an elongated U- shaped strap provided with an elongated rectangular slot in its bottom portion, a rectangular block member having a width less than the width of said slot and a length greater than the width of said slot, to permit said member to be inserted through said elongated rectangular slot and thereafter rotated in position its greater length across the width of the slot a cylindrical member formed integral with and depending from the rectangular block member and provided with external threads at its lower end, and an internally threaded clamping member engaging with the threads on the depending member, for clamping the rectangular block member in adjusted position relative to the length of the said slot.

ROBERT L. DAVISON. 

